Abstract: Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor is a member of the EGF family, it is a potent mitogen for smooth muscle cells and has been implicated in atherosclerosis, angiogenesis. In athererogenesis, HB-EGF has been detected in medial smooth cells and foamy macrofages. In this work, we have investigate about immunohistocemical localization of HB-EGF in atherosclerotic plaques.
Abstract: We have presently evaluated the effects of the immunomodulatory drug rapamycin on the course of protracted relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (PR-EAE) in Dark Agouti (DA) rats, which serves as a preclinical model of multiple sclerosis. The data show that the oral administration of rapamycin at 3 mg/kg for 28 consecutive days significantly ameliorated the course of PR-EAE in DA rats. The rats that received the medication had significantly lower clinical cumulative scores and shorter duration of the disease than did the control rats treated with the vehicle. The milder course of the disease was associated with a reduction of the histopathological signs associated to EAE: increased percentage of splenic CD4+CD25 + Foxp3+ Tregs and concomitant reduction of splenic CD8+T cells. These data suggest that rapamycin has pharmacological potential worthy of consideration in the treatment of MS patients.
Abstract: An ontogenetic study was designed on developing rats in uterus of mothers tryptophan deprived at day 1 (exp. 1) and day 14.5 (exp. 2) of conception to verify the supposed determining role of the serotoninergic system (SS) in sexual differentiation in mammals. Tryptophan-free feeding was pursued uninterruptedly in the litter after birth, during lactation and post-natal development. Tryptophan-free pregnant rats were obtained by exclusion of tryptophan sources from chow. In both exp. 1 and exp. 2, the litter showed at birth a significant physical under evolution that worsened, during post-natal development, to a much more marked dwarfism in exp. 1 pups. Growth hormone concentrations in both sexes of dwarf rats were lower than that in the control rats. At 30 days post-natal age, whereas exp. 1 female rats showed a right-timed onset of puberty, no descensus of testes could be observed in male rats of same experiment. Dwarf male rats showed an evident hypotrophy of the whole reproductive apparatus. In histological examination of testes, neither spermatogenesis nor Leydig cells have been observed. Moreover, dwarf female rats showed a pronounced hypotrophy of reproductive organs, but a normal puberal status pattern was evident. In exp. 2, litters showed a less pronounced dwarfism, but a normal right-timed onset of puberty in both male and female rats. Data indicate that role of tryptophan in physical and sexual maturation in both male and female rats is essential.
Abstract: An ontogenetic and endocrinological study has been designed on developing rats in uterus of mothers tryptophan deprived at day 1 (exp. 1) and day 14.5 (exp. 2) of conception to verify the supposed determining role of the serotoninergic system (SS) in sexual differentiation in mammals. Tryptophan-free feeding has been pursued uninterruptedly in the litter after birth, during lactation and postnatal development. Tryptophan-free pregnant rats were obtained by exclusion of tryptophan sources from chow. In both exp. 1 and exp. 2 the litter showed at birth a significant physical under evolution, that worsened, during post-natal development, to a much more marked dwarfism in exp. 1 pups. At 30 days postnatal age, whereas the female exp. 1 rats showed a right-timed onset of puberty, neither descensus of the testes nor spermatogenesis could be observed in the male rats of the same experiment. Endocrinologically the males showed a significant reduction of plasma FSH levels, but also a slight increase of those of LH. Moreover, a marked hypoandrogenism and a severe hypoprolactinemia characterized the males of this group. Hypoprolactinemia was the major endocrinological finding also in the female litter, which, however, at 30 days p.n. age showed the typical histological patterns of a cycling ovary, i.e. growing secondary follicles with scattered antral spaces, and thus a right-timed pubertal maturation, in spite of the significant lower plasma levels of pituitary gonadotropins and sex steroids. When mothers were tryptophan deprived at 14.5 of pregnancy (exp. 2), the litters showed a less marked dwarfism, persistent, severe hypoprolactinemia as in exp. 1 rats, but a normal right-timed onset of puberty in both male and female rats. Taken together these findings confirm on the one hand the close relationship between SS and PRL. On the other hand, they suggest a major, crucial role of PRL played in the male rat before day 14.5 of intrauterine development, presumably intervening in the synthesis of LH receptors sites by the maturing Leydig cells in the male gonads. Growth hormone concentrations in both sexes dwarf rats were lower than in control rats.
Abstract: With the present paper authors try to give an embryological approach in understanding etiopathogenesis of lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD). The case of a 41-years-old man affected by isolated LCD has been examined at the Ophtalmologic Clinic of the University of Catania, Italy. Sore cornea has been excised during cornea transplantation, and it has been examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results confirm classic submicroscopic findings described in literature. However these findings offer possibility to consider an embryological interpretation of LCD pathogenesis. Our findings with those of literature put forward hypothesis of a hereditary etiopathogenetical role exerted by keratocytes, direct derivatives of neural crest cells during embryogenesis, probably via an abnormal gene expression in producing proteinaceous precursor of amyloid substance (APP). LCD could be considered a neurocristopathy.
Abstract: In this study, we evaluated the expression of genes probably involved in spermatogenesis in the mouse. We examined cytosolic chaperonin theta subunit (CCTtheta), Ngg1 interacting factor 3 like 1 binding protein 1 (NIF3L1 BP1) and apolipoprotein H (ApoH) expression during mouse onto-geny using RT-PCR. Testicular tissue was obtained from mice 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 20 and 40 (adult) days after birth. For each mouse, one testis was used for histological examination, whereas RNA was extracted from the controlateral testis for expression analysis. RT-PCR analysis showed that CCTtheta gene expression was low until day 10, but increased drastically afterwards. At this age, spermatocytes started to be present in the mouse testis. Therefore, CCT protein could be involved in chromatin packaging and remodeling during spermiogenesis, as also suggested by other studies. NIF3L1 BP1 expression increased steadily during ontogenesis reaching maximum levels in the adult mouse when all germ cell stages are present. This finding suggests that NIF3L1 BP1 is a gene not expressed by a specific germ cell type. ApoH expression was very low or absent during prepuberal stages, whereas it was detectable in the adult testis when spermatogenesis was completed. This suggests that ApoH may be involved in clearing apoptotic bodies during spermatogenesis since apoptotic events increase during spermatogenesis. This study contributes to understanding the role played by genes important for spermatogenesis.
Abstract: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer, and its incidence is increasing. It was proposed that the RAS oncogene significantly contributes to skin cancer development. Numerous BRAF mutations have been detected in melanoma biopsy specimens and cell lines. For the first time, in the present study, tumor biopsy specimens from 78 patients with BCC were screened for BRAF mutation within exons 11 and 15. Our results indicate that the BRAF gene does not appear to be frequently mutated in nonmelanoma skin tumors such as BCC. These data suggest that other gene alterations may cause tumor development.
Abstract: This experimental study concerns influence of feeding in experimental animals (mice), using diets containing fatty acids of either animal or vegetal origin, in particular extra-virgin olive oil which is rich in monounsatured fatty acids (MUFAs). Animals have been divided into several experimental groups including either inactive or in exercise animals fed with either diet containing unsatured fatty acids and cholesterol of animal origin or diet whose lipids have been substituted with extra-virgin olive oil. Exercising animals have been studied over a 150 days period of training. In particular it has been studied serum lipid profile, microscopic as well as ultrastructural features of myocardium and skeletal muscle and potential risks for atherogenesis of both diets. Results showed the fundamental importance of extra-virgin olive oil in preventing atherosclerosis and coronary cardiopathy. This result was particularly highlighted by serum lipid profiles in animals of all experimental groups. The morphological findings are parallel and in agreement with the hematological ones both in light microscopy as well as in electron microscopy. In considering that mouse, as experimental animal, is similar to human, from a phylogenetic and physiopathologist point of view, the consequences of our experimental findings, in the present study, are of interest for human prevention against coronary heart diseases.
Abstract: The pituitary hormone prolactin (PRL) has recently been regarded as a local regulator of macrophage responses. Our goal in this study was to investigate the regulatory interaction between PRL, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production in human monocytes/macrophages (HMMs). In vitro treatment of HMMs with PRL, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and LPS was found to increase both HO-1 expression and protein synthesis in a time-dependent manner. HMMs treated with PRL, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and LPS also showed an enhanced release of VEGF. Moreover, co-stimulation of PRL with LPS caused activation of HMMs functions, enhancement of HO-1 expression and induction of VEGF release, whereas addition of PRL inhibited up-regulation of HO-1 or VEGF induced by IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha. Our results demonstrate that PRL, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and LPS modulate the expression of angiogenic factors providing additional information about the regulatory mechanism, which controls the angiogenic function of macrophages.
Abstract: Lectin staining patterns in secretory granules of rat parotid gland acinar cell of untreated and isoproterenol-injected animals were examined by electron microscopy. We used four lectin-gold complexes: Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA-I), Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Glycine max agglutinin (SBA). Specimens were low temperature embedded in the hydrophilic Lowicryl K4M resin. The normal acinar cells produced glycoconjugates which were positive for all of the lectins used and with a characteristic topographic distribution in relation to the morphological type of granule. The cells of isoproterenol-treated rat showed marked ultrastructural changes in the size and structure of granules; significant changes in lectin binding sites in the granules were also observed.
